In this issue…

  1. PREPARE FOR THE MISSION FIELD IN ONE YEAR
  2. HEALING AND WHOLENESS FOR THE MISSIONARY
  3. 24-HOUR TRAVEL ASSISTANCE SERVICES
  4. BUDDHIST WORKSHOP
  5. CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE STORYING CLASS
  6. TESOL TRAINING WITH PRACTICUM
  7. MAGAZINE PUBLISHING COURSES
  8. LITERATURE FOR THE FULAS
  9. PRAY FOR THE HAKKA
  10. CLOSING STUFF

  1. PREPARE FOR THE MISSION FIELD IN ONE YEAR — Gateway Missionary Training Centre, Langley. B.C. in co-operation with Pacific Life Bible College, Surrey, B.C. is offering a unique training opportunity. Students are able to earn 36 Bible credits through PLBC while also being equipped at Gateway for effective cross-cultural ministry. The course begins in September 2003. For more information check the web page http://www.gatewaytraining.org or write to . </info@gatewaytraining.org>

  2. HEALING AND WHOLENESS FOR THE MISSIONARY – – Since 1993, Healing for the Nations has helped missionaries from all over the world experience healing, restoration and a renewed intimacy with God. Each month a one week retreat consisting of chapels, teaching, small group work and one on one time with the staff is held in a conference facility on a mountain just north of Atlanta, Georgia. If time out for yourself is long overdue and you have a sense that there are some things in your life that need attention, call toll free in the USA at 800-483-2841 or 770-919-0140 (Internationally). You may also access their website at http://www.healingforthenations.org .

  3. 24-HOUR TRAVEL ASSISTANCE SERVICES — What would happen if you or your short-term team lost all of your baggage or passports and you could not perform your ministry? What if you needed to rebook your flights, hotel reservations or ground transportation, or needed emergency cash? Insurance Services of America is a Christian organization that specializes in helping individuals and groups with these and many other situations. They offer what they say is the ONLY individual and group short-term international health insurance plans that automatically include true 24-hour travel assistance. To get complete details, go to their web site at http://www.missionaryhealth.net , or email them at or call them at 1-800-647-4589 (1-480- 821-9052 outside of North America). If you don’t want to use the “missionary” site you may get the same information online at http://www.overseashealth.com . </isahealth@isa.phxcoxmail.com>

  4. BUDDHIST WORKSHOP — If you are interested in special training for ministering to people influenced by Buddhist worldviews, the Asia Pacific Institute of Buddhist Studies is offering 4 two week modules at the campus of Asia Pacific Theological Seminary (APTS) in Baguio, Philippines, June 2-July 25. Course 1 June 2-13 “Introduction to Buddhism” (Dave Oleson, Northwest College); Course 2 June 16-June 27 “Ancient Wisdom, Modern World: Christian Responses to Tibetan Buddhism” (Hugh Kemp, Dean of Studies at the Manuwatu Centre of the Bible College of New Zealand); Course 3 June 30-July 11 “Mahayana Buddhism and Japanese Sects” (Mark Dominey, missionary to Japan with OMF); Course 4 “Church Planting Among Buddhist Peoples” (Alex Smith, Minister-At-Large to the Buddhist World, OMF). Courses can be taken for graduate credit with APTS. If interested, request a pre-application form from Linda Moises <guestservices@apts.edu>. </guestservices@apts.edu>

  5. CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE STORYING CLASS — This course is designed to teach the Chronological Bible Storying (CBS) method of presentation. CBS tells selected biblical stories in chronological order in an effort to bring people to genuine faith in Christ, mature discipleship, and fruitful Christian service. Storying is based entirely upon the Bible and is chosen because it is a primary communication vehicle of the target people. Stories are selected based upon the universal biblical truth to be communicated and upon identified barriers in the target people’s worldview. Storying is structured to give an “oral” Bible to individuals and to develop the competency to share it orally. Dates for this course, taught by Dr. Grant Lovejoy, are May 28-June 20, 2003 at the Center for Intercultural Training campus in North Carolina. For more info contact them at <citmail@cit-online.org> or 800.887.1786 or visit their website at http://www.cit-online.org . </citmail@cit-online.org>

  6. TESOL TRAINING WITH PRACTICUM –- Asia’s Center for TESOL has a five week intensive TESOL course taught by experienced American instructors and includes a teaching practicum. The course dates are July 21-August 22, 2003. The cost is approximately 370 US dollars (could change without notice), 5 books, and curriculum. The cost for Philippine citizens is approximately P8000. The course combines the academic with the practical. For more information write to Melody Kuka at <kzkuka@jmf.org.ph> or Box 1415 QCCPO, Quezon City 1154, Philippines 632-658-3807. </kzkuka@jmf.org.ph>

  7. MAGAZINE PUBLISHING COURSES — The Magazine Training Institute announces two courses for Christian magazine publishing staff to be held in Ruminezevo, near Moscow. The Business of Magazine Publishing will be offered June 1-6, and Editing the Magazine will be held June 8- 13. The courses are subsidized by Western Christian publishers, so tuition and room and board costs are minimal. For more information, write or check MTI’s website at http://www.magazinetraining.com . MTI has been offering conferences and courses for Christian magazine staff since 1989. </sharonmumper@compuserve.com>

  8. LITERATURE FOR THE FULAS — SOON Ministries now have two free evangelistic papers available for the Fula people of West Africa. ‘BADAKE’ is produced in Fulfulde Adamaoua (Toucouleur) while ‘BOOYATAA’ is written in Pulaar-Fulakunda and Pulaar-Futa Toro (Toucouleur). It has glossaries to help speakers of each dialect understand the rest of the material. The dialects are sufficiently similar to Pulaar Futa that those speakers may also find it accessible. Samples are available to download in PDF format, and free copies can be posted to anyone who can use them, in any reasonable quantity: http://www.gospelcom.net/guide/resources/booyataa.php For more info, write <guide@web-evangelism.com>. </guide@web-evangelism.com>

  9. PRAY FOR THE HAKKA — Join YWAM Hakka Church Planting Ministries in a marathon Prayer Net during the rest of the month of May! Of the more than three million Hakkas who live in Taiwan, only .2% would consider themselves to be Christians. If you’d like to join the long-term church planting team – and hundreds of others from around the world – in this Prayer Net effort, check it out at… http://www.hakkaministries.org/prayernet2003/howtopray.htm .